JAIPUR: Even though a good two years have passed since the state government announced its first-ever forest policy in 2010, the notification is still awaiting active implementation.

The Rajasthan State Forest Policy 2010 had acknowledged the importance of Orans that are considered repositories of rich biodiversity and an excellent example of people's religious faith linked with conservation. The aim of the forest policy was to preserve ecological balance through increasing vegetal cover which would help in reducing soil erosion and consequently dust particle in upper stratosphere.

KOZHIKODE: Showing signs of improvement in the mangrove cover across the state, the Annual Report of the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) 2011-12, which was released recently, notes that the mangrove cover in Kerala has increased for the first time since 2005.

According to the report, the total mangrove cover in the state is now spread across a total area of 6 km2. Though the mangrove was spread across an area of 8 km2 in the year 2003, it had declined to 5 km2 during the last survey conducted in 2009.

Involving people in forest conservation is the best way to achieve the desired results. Tribal people and those residing along the ecologically sensitive forest areas should be sensitised, said S. Sasikumar, Passport Officer, Coimbatore on Sunday.

Mr. Sasikumar, hailing from Tamil Nadu, is an Indian Forest Service Officer attached to West Bengal cadre. He is currently serving as Passport Officer, Coimbatore, on deputation with the Ministry of External Affairs.

A project on forest and biodiversity conservation is on the anvil in Assam with assistance from the French Development Agency at an estimated cost of €60 million.

Official sources said that another pilot project for natural resource management and integrated livelihood under World Bank funding, launched in 2007 in two forest divisions to usher in a new era of forest management, has been expanded to nine forest divisions.

Jammu: The government has big plans to expand the green cover in the state. The Economic Survey Report, 2011-12, by the Directorate of Economics and Statistics has revealed that the forest department planned to conserve the existing forest resources and bring more areas under tree plantation to expand the forest cover in the state.

A major afforestation drive is all set to begin this monsoon with the forest department joining hands with local bodies, industries, education and agricultural departments, social forestry, and employment guarantee scheme (EGS) under the joint forest management programme. The idea is to plant local species, mainly fruiting plants like mango, jackfruit, amla, neem, sitafal, and jujube (bor) trees. The bodies and organisations undertake plantation will be responsible for protecting and maintaining the trees.